October 18, 2012

Tracfone Review - LG 800G Touchscreen

The LG 800G Touchscreen phone from Tracfone with Triple Minutes for life

LG-800G-tracfone
LG 800G from TracFone
This is a phone for anyone who likes the freedom of prepaid cell phones, but wants a touchscreen phone with a little more features.

The LG 800G is one of TracFone's more expensive phones at $50, but it delivers on features, performance, and overall value.

Check the end of this post to see where you can get this phone for closer to $15!


LG 800G - Features

The LG 800G comes with plenty of features as most phones usually do. Here are some of the most important features:

  • Triple Minutes for Life
  • Touchscreen
  • Mobile Web Browsing
  • 2 Mega Pixel Camera and Video recorder
  • Speaker Phone
  • 1000 entry phone book
  • Voice Recorder
  • Space for Additional Memory (Micro SD card, but does not come with purchase)
  • Alarm Clock
  • Wall Charger
  • 3.06 ounces total weight 
  • Good battery life - 8 days on standby
  • Calculator with advanced functions

The triple minutes for life is a huge bonus to this phone making texting, calling, and surfing the web much more cost effective compared to other Tracfone options.

Likes and Dislikes for the LG 800G

This phone comes with several features that we really like - Triple Minutes for Life, 2 MP Camera and Mobile web.

Triple Minutes for Life means that for every minute of airtime you add, it will be turned into 3. So if you add a 60 minute prepaid card you will get 120 total minutes! And of course you will use a Promo Code to get a few extra bonus minutes!

The 2 Mega Pixel camera and video recorder is adequate for taking pictures or video if you don't have any other devices handy, and you can store these on the MicroSD card (which unfortunately is not included). Mobile web is also a nice feature for this phone, but it will cost you airtime.

What we were not such a huge fan about was the somewhat unresponsive touchscreen. While you can get used to it and some may even like it, for those who have used newer devices with modern touchscreens, it may be a little disappointing.

While the LG 800G does bring some great features, it is nowhere near a smartphone, so be aware of what you are actually getting for your money.

If you are looking for a phone with a few more features, like WiFi and a better touchscreen, you should deffinatly check out the newer, LG 840G and our full review.

Customer Reviews of the LG 800G:

Most people give the LG 800G a favorable review of 4 out of 5 stars.

Customers liked the size of the touchscreen, the ability to have a no contract smartphone, and the overall value of the phone with triple minutes.

Some customers thought that the LG 800G lacked the full functionality that other smartphones have, and the customer service was also not up to par.

The touchscreen is not always as responsive as users would like. However, the included Triple Minutes for Life is a great bonus for this phone.

Overall, the LG 800G from Tracfone is a very good value for the money. For those who have experience using Tracfone prepaid cell phones, it is a nice upgrade from many of their other phones. For those who have not used a Tracfone before, or don't have experience with prepaid cell phones, this might be a little challenging to get accustomed to.

You might find some of our other recent articles useful in shopping for a cell phone including:
Top LG cell phones from Tracfone
Top Samsung cell phones from Tracfone
The Best Tracfone Cell Phones

Update - Cheapest Place To Buy:

lg 800g tracfone review
LG 800G on Amazon
Tracfone Reviewer suggests buying the LG 800G from Amazon, where the phone is currently on sale at a discounted price (last check it was on sale for $15!): Click the image to the right to go to see the phone on Amazon.

Want more Reviews? Visit our Cell Phone Reviews page!

Read our Overview of Tracfone for more information about prepaid cell phones

10 comments :

Unknown said...

This phone isn't a bad first try, but they have had alot of issues with the touchscreens. I have had heck of a time texting or even putting in a phone number. I hit say a 1 and I get a 2 it's calibration isnt good, no matter how many times you recalibrate it still dosen't help.

Anonymous said...

The most devious of feature on the L800g is the lock on the numbers screen. When trying to use the numeral screen for extension numbers, I.D.numbers, or routing, the "unlock" window appears and is timed so if you are slow, you loose the call.

Anonymous said...

I bought this phone a year ago for $30. The only problem I have is it gets frozen from time to time. This happens when I am at home when the phone would work fine for 95% of the time. The only way to revive it is to take the battery out. And that was a trick I learned from using Blackberry. Also, the back cover was very difficult to remove. I ended up keeping the phone in a a cover without the back cover. Other than that, the phone does its job adequately. After a year, it is still ticking :-))) I wouldn't mind paying $15 to replace it with another LG800 when the time comes.

Ken Carr said...

I have had the LG800G for a couple of years. I may soon move over to one of the new Androids that Tracfone has released.

The 800G does some things well. The audio is always very clear on both ends. It's bluetooth easily links with the Bluetooth speaker (Ikross?) that I have in the car. It also links nicely with my wife's new VW Beetle. She can now do voice calling through the Beetle and the 800G uploaded here entire contact list to the car without her even knowing it.

I especially like the ability to put a photo in for each contact. I was able to display the maximum of 8 contact photos on my main screen. When I want to call one, I just touch their photo and then touch the phone icon. While dialing and during the conversation the other person's photo fills the screen. So cool.

Unfortunately, no matter what you are doing, the screen sensitivity is not so good. It make take 2 or 3 tries to hit that call icon properly so the phone will make the call.
Likewise, getting on the Intenet is the most frustrating experience possible (well almost). It's only for emergencies. You need a good signal and lots of patience while inputting passwords, addresses, etc.
Texting? OMG. It once took me 3 minutes to text my daughter "We are on the boat". That little touch sensitive screen just does not do it. (had to text because signal was not strong enough for calling).
Also, this does not have voice-to-text texting or voice dialing. I'd like to have both of those.
Apps? Forget about it. Just a few Java apps out there and they are not worth your time.
The camera is adequate when you are in a pinch. Get close to your subject. Photos tend to take on a slight blue hue.

So, if you want an inexpensive phone that works rather well, this may do it. If you are a big texter, you had better have pixie fingers.

Anonymous said...

I'm on my second lg 800g tracfone and dislike it also. It does not hold a charge more than a few minutes. A friend also just recently ordered it and it has the exact same problem . We both ordered them over the home shopping network.

Anonymous said...

We got one of these for $5 from Tracfone so we have no complaints!

Anonymous said...

can you use wifi with LG800GHL instead of using minutes? Need a GPS and can't decide if I should invest in Android/iPhone 4 CDMA model or try to figure this one out... thanks for any help.

Anonymous said...

i am to have triple for life but can only find double to purchase. can not talk to a person when calling in. only s automated phone. all i want to d is add more min and can't get it done. i called hsn to see if i could get help with what i ordered and now cant get my triple life. can anyone help me with getting my min i am suppose to be able to purchase .

Anonymous said...

On tracfone website,

Unknown said...

I love my cell phone it is an LG800G. It works just fine I had to ask my sister to where she had bought hers and she told me and gave me the store's name which was on Ebay. I only paid $10.00 for mine it was brand new, right down to the box it came in. It was not refurbished or used cellphone. I have had this for 7 years. I love that this has triple mins, it's small, all the apps work, many ringtones, funky games, takes nice pictures. Plus I can always upgrade the SD Micro card to a higher number. The best part it has No Contract. I needed a cell phone with triple minutes and no contract been there done that. And you can buy the cards to add minutes almost everywhere.